Best terminal Ram for easycare ewes,

[Bones]

Other lambs seem to be filling out better but as you say, maybe its the wool. Plan to weigh a few of them this weekend so will update the thread then.

Only new to the breed my self, next spring will be the first lambing with easycar e ewes , maybe they will be more slight in stature .

 

[neilo]

Other lambs seem to be filling out better but as you say, maybe its the wool. Plan to weigh a few of them this weekend so will update the thread then.

If you are just going by looks, without weighing, I would certainly hold fire until you have. As anyone that has weighed Charollais and Texel X lambs in a bunch will tell you, those lighter boned & tighter skinned lambs can be surprising when you actually put them on the scales. I would imagine Easycares ‘should’ weigh better than they look too, but i’ve No experience of them.
Also remember that your Suffolk X ewes will (presumably) be bigger ewes than the Easycares, so having a higher maintenance cost. It’s not really a straight comparison between pure Easycare (maternal) lambs vs (3/4 terminal?) lambs from Suffolk X ewes.
Lamb weight & value isn’t the only factor to consider in profitability. Costs involved in getting it there is every bit as important, if not more so.

 

[Green farmer]

Ran a texel, charly, Suffolk and Lleyn ram here this year. The terminal lambs look like body builders now at a month or two old. Way more muscular then the Lleyns. However way more Lleyn lambs survived, and will have more to sell later in summer, so it’s all relative really.

 

[foxirl]

Ran a texel, charly, Suffolk and Lleyn ram here this year. The terminal lambs look like body builders now at a month or two old. Way more muscular then the Lleyns. However way more Lleyn lambs survived, and will have more to sell later in summer, so it’s all relative really.

If you are just going by looks, without weighing, I would certainly hold fire until you have. As anyone that has weighed Charollais and Texel X lambs in a bunch will tell you, those lighter boned & tighter skinned lambs can be surprising when you actually put them on the scales. I would imagine Easycares ‘should’ weigh better than they look too, but i’ve No experience of them.
Also remember that your Suffolk X ewes will (presumably) be bigger ewes than the Easycares, so having a higher maintenance cost. It’s not really a straight comparison between pure Easycare (maternal) lambs vs (3/4 terminal?) lambs from Suffolk X ewes.
Lamb weight & value isn’t the only factor to consider in profitability. Costs involved in getting it there is every bit as important, if not more so.

Very good points. Will definitely report back after I weigh a few for comparison

 

[Green farmer]

I’m thinking about trying the lad in Meath for a ram later in the summer, as I’m down in munster. I think it either him or Campbell tweed up north, that have the big easycare flocks over here, afaik.

 

[Bones]

I’m thinking about trying the lad in Meath for a ram later in the summer, as I’m down in munster. I think it either him or Campbell tweed up north, that have the big easycare flocks over here, afaik.

You'd be surprised how many flocks of 3 or 4 hundred ewes there's about , just not into the whole society thing , just regular farmers , that's how I came across my ewes, from August on keep an eye on dondeal

 

[foxirl]

I’m thinking about trying the lad in Meath for a ram later in the summer, as I’m down in munster. I think it either him or Campbell tweed up north, that have the big easycare flocks over here, afaik.

There's a guy in Kells in Kilkenny also who may be closer to you.

 

[pgk]

If you are just going by looks, without weighing, I would certainly hold fire until you have. As anyone that has weighed Charollais and Texel X lambs in a bunch will tell you, those lighter boned & tighter skinned lambs can be surprising when you actually put them on the scales. I would imagine Easycares ‘should’ weigh better than they look too, but i’ve No experience of them.
Also remember that your Suffolk X ewes will (presumably) be bigger ewes than the Easycares, so having a higher maintenance cost. It’s not really a straight comparison between pure Easycare (maternal) lambs vs (3/4 terminal?) lambs from Suffolk X ewes.
Lamb weight & value isn’t the only factor to consider in profitability. Costs involved in getting it there is every bit as important, if not more so.

First year we had Easycares and no weigh crate kept looking at them and each week drew first hampx lleyns, then lleyns and finally Easycares, most easycares killed out 27kg deadweight and I thought they were going to be 18 to 20 like the lleyns. Then bought weigh crate and never looked back.

 

[foxirl]

Very good points. Will definitely report back after I weigh a few for comparison

Weighed a few at the weekend and they weighed heavier than expected. Not as well as the non-easycare but not too much less.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Hampshire Down.

Not just a pretty face.

 

[Bones]

Weighed a few at the weekend and they weighed heavier than expected. Not as well as the non-easycare but not too much less.

What way are your lambs performing now,

 

[foxirl]

What way are your lambs performing now,

Only have 5 easycare ram lambs and weighed them at the weekend.
45.00
44.20
43.30
37.50
42.90
The non easy care ram lambs weighed between 40 & 44 but would be 2-3 weeks younger.
Will be going to factory in next 2 weeks so will have an idea what they kill out at then. Still considering keeping the 45kg ram as looks good and might use him if I buy in some easy care ewe lambs or use him on the the non related easy care ewes.

 

[Bones]

Only have 5 easycare ram lambs and weighed them at the weekend.
45.00
44.20
43.30
37.50
42.90
The non easy care ram lambs weighed between 40 & 44 but would be 2-3 weeks younger.
Will be going to factory in next 2 weeks so will have an idea what they kill out at then. Still considering keeping the 45kg ram as looks good and might use him if I buy in some easy care ewe lambs or use him on the the non related easy care ewes.

Nothing wrong with that,

 

[Dangerous Dan]

If you are just going by looks, without weighing, I would certainly hold fire until you have. As anyone that has weighed Charollais and Texel X lambs in a bunch will tell you, those lighter boned & tighter skinned lambs can be surprising when you actually put them on the scales. I would imagine Easycares ‘should’ weigh better than they look too,

We ran some easycares gimmers in our first year. Had a pure tup over them and they threw out some belting lambs. Always "looked" lighter but we always found that looks were deceiving. E.C lambs always weighed the same or slightly heavier than any texel X or similar. Sold them all as we didn't think we could keep a secondary flock going and didn't see a market for them at the time. Kept one on girl back and she has always given us bloody good lambs. Always wished we had kept the E.C side going. Good meat on them but do they do so well in the ring?? In not sure.

 

[Chasingmytail]

my lambs constantly small. Pretty hardy bunch but just don't get the weight. Born mid April - weights now 25 - 32kg. Grass fed. Seem to have a lot of pigmy's. Good lambing, no losses and bolus this year. They look great apart from the coughing (addressed by worming) was hoping to get a few gone but looks like they have a few months to go with very little grass. Feeding them isn't cost effective they have to survive on grass now.

 

[TALDLONKTUP2]

Only have 5 easycare ram lambs and weighed them at the weekend.
45.00
44.20
43.30
37.50
42.90
The non easy care ram lambs weighed between 40 & 44 but would be 2-3 weeks younger.
Will be going to factory in next 2 weeks so will have an idea what they kill out at then. Still considering keeping the 45kg ram as looks good and might use him if I buy in some easy care ewe lambs or use him on the the non related easy care ewes.

I wouldn't just keep the biggest, look at which were twins then from that consider structure as well....and look at if you like the mother as well!

 

[CopperBeech]

We’ve pretty much settled on charmoise, Southdown, Texel and suftex.

 

[wbow14]

Used a hampshire last year for first time. Lambed most in March and sold first batch this week. Only had grass and considering recent weather & prices, quite happy with results.

 

[foxirl]

Brought some lambs to factory last week and the easy care killed out just as well as the non easy care. Some were even over the 21.5kg cutoff.
Ended up buying 20 more easycare ewe lambs and hoggets so will get out of my non easy care over the next year.

 

[Bones]

We’ve pretty much settled on charmoise, Southdown, Texel and suftex.

are you putting charmoise on mature ewes or ewes lambs?